First PACA paramotor rally: a runaway success!
News from 22 October 2020. Last updated on 23 October 2020: some information may have changed. Latest news
On the weekend of 17 and 18 October, the first Paramotor rally organised by the PACA Regional Committee took place. 20 pilots registered from every department of the region. Some were already there on Friday evening, ready to take off on Saturday morning at Saint-Martin-de-Castillon.
Several people were part of the rally’s support team: Christian Piccioli, Michel Gentilini and Corinne Monloubou representing the PACA Regional Committee, Noël Mazaudier, head of the federation’s Sport Division, and then Jean-Christophe Pelisse and Christophe Constantin to ensure the safety of the pilots in flight.
The flights
The flights began on Saturday morning, departing from Saint-Martin-de-Castillon (LF8421). After the morning briefing given by Christian Piccioli and Noël Mazaudier, the participants took off for the Oraison airfield (LF0451). A small challenge was offered to the pilots there: spotting notable landmarks during the flight. After a lunch provided on site by Claude Diouloufet, the paramotor pilots set off for their second stage: Pampelone (LF8357).
The end of the day gave the pilots a chance to rest, swap experiences and share a very friendly time!
On Sunday, the pilots returned to the Saint-Martin-de-Castillon base, where the photo challenge prize-giving, a distribution of goodies and a final meal took place.
Flying conditions
Flying conditions were glorious, with beautiful sunshine and very welcoming microlight strips. The participants’ safety was at the heart of the briefing, with a weight-shift microlight providing the radio link in flight for traffic with other aircraft and a paramotor instructor bringing up the rear to make sure no participant was lost or in difficulty.
A runaway success!
By the participants’ own admission, they had an excellent, very friendly weekend, coming together around a shared passion: flying! Many expressions of friendship and thanks were sent to the Regional Committee by the paramotor pilots. They were able to fly over superb landscapes near Lake Sainte-Croix.
A successful first edition, then, with a very good atmosphere! To be repeated very soon!
